Splint-forming machine



I I V 9 M 6 Wm- W H l 1 W 2 A A BUSSY SPLINT FORMING MACHINE Filed June 10. 1926 May 15, 1928.

Patented May 15, 1928.

UNIT STATES PATENT, orn c s.

4mm Bessy, or rams, ERALNCE.

SPLINT-FORMING MACHINE.

Application fled J'une'lfl, 1926, Serial 1T0. 115,116, and in France June 26, 1925. i

, "The present invention relates to machines 'for making splints for use in the manufacture of matches as well asf'or other purposes; and its object, stated briefly, is to proi W vide improved mechanism or devices which rocking slide, and then to sever the slit face in slices by means, preferably, of a rota-ting disk cutter or cutters. The slitting device and the slicing devicemove-or operate in alternation and in directions/perpendicular to each, other, the latter device being carried by a reciprocating cross-head; and the invention, in its more limited aspects, resides in the particular mounting of the slide and the cross-head, and in the mechanical devices employed for effecting and controlling their movements. These'and other improvements: involved are. fully described and exlainedhereinafter, and set forth in the appended claims, but it is to be understood that structural modifications and changes may be made in the machine while remaining within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing shows a machine embodying what is now considered the preferred construction of the invention, such machine comprising two slitting devices and two rotary cutters or slicers, the slitting devices having a rectilinear reciprocating 4 movement which,however, can be substituted by a rocking movement if desired.

In said drawing: Figure l is a fragmental side elevation of the machine;

Fi 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof, the right halfv on line AB, and the left half on line CD, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 1. In the middle of the upper part of the frame 1 are provided dove-tail or rectangular guides 2 for a slide 3 whichmoves forward and backward. This slide 3-on which one or a plurality of the already-mentioned slitting devices can be secured-is driven by a connecting rod or pitman 5 and a crank (not shown) attached thereto. The

. of the two slitting devices are designated 4, 4 and their characteristic feature: is that they can comprise a variable number of superimposed knives or cutters according tothe required matchsections and to the machines capacity.

To the frame 1 are secured uprights 6 '6 fittedwith guides 7,7 fora sliding cross-head 8 wherein revolves a shaft 9 carrying two rotary slicing disks 10. Cross-headS is provided with twoears 11, between which passes a pivot-stud 12 secured by a nut 13;"and on this stud is mounted the upper end of a con-- necti'ng rod- 14, the lower end 15 of which fits slida-bly in a bearing 16 on frame 1 and carries abolt 17' equipped with a roller 18'.

This roller 18 travelsin a groove 19 pro vided in a cam 20- keyed on a shaft 21 Where-- on fixed a sprocket wheel 22, the drive of which is not shown. Shaft 9, carrying the slicing disks 10, is rotated by a worm 2'4 meshing with a worm wheel 23 thereon, the worm 24 being itself keyed toslide on a longitudinally' grooved shaft 25 which also carries a spiral gear 26 inmesh with and driven by a similar gear 26 mounted on a horizon tal shaft or spindle 27. The latter also carries a sprocket wheel 28 driven by a chain (not shown)". v

On each side of the frame are positioned wooden timbers 29 and 29 connected with a feeding device (not shown) by means of levers and pawls; such arrangement permitting the timbers to be fed accurately so that the slitters will penetrate thereinto only to the required extent and in accordance with the adjustment of the rotary slicin disks.

The timbers 29 and 29 must have a thickness (in the direction of their grain) equivalent to the length of a match splint or stem, but their width is limited by the height of the machine; that is to say, by the cage carryin the feeding rolls or cylinders, the len th 0 the timbers being a function diameter of the shaft.

Theoperation of the machine is as follows:

On the machine being started, the connecting rod or pitman 5 imparts to slide 3 a reciprocatory motion in the slideway 2 of frame 1. Due to this motion, the slitting device 4: forms cuts in the wood to a depth corresponding to the thickness of a match stem; the spacing of the cutters being equal to the width of a stem. Shaft 21 and cam 20 are constantly rotated when the machine is started and, at the same time, grooved shaft is driven by wheels 23 and 24 and its rotation is transmitted to the parts on shaft 9 and, hence, to the rotary cutters 10. Cam 20, however, makes two revolutions while the crank which actuates pitman 5 makes one, so that, in fact, cam 20 makes two revolutions during a reciprocation of the slitting device 4.

lVhile the slitting device 4 is at Work, cam 20 occupies the position indicated by its axial line O-B (Fig. 1), the cross-head 8 remaining stationary at the upper part of,

the frame although shaft 21 is constantly rotating. This is made possible owing to the semi-circular part of groove 19, the result being that the work of the slicing disks 10 is effected during half a revolution only of cam 20. During this second period, roller 18 is compelled to follow the path of the groove from N to 0, while pulling downwards the connecting rod 14 and the crosshead 8, the latter sliding between the guides 7. Due to the rotation of the cam, the cutting disks are thus causedv to assiune the position 1O indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1; whereafter, during the travel of roller 18 from O to M and then to B, the crosshead resumes its position at the top of guides 7. At the same time, the rectilinear bearing 16 maintains the connecting rod 14 rigid despite the effort of roller 18.

This cycle of movements is repeated during both'the forward and the return move ment of the slitting device, the latter slitting the wood both on moving forward and on coming back, and the disks l0 slicing off the wood in such a way as to detach the stems or splints after each slitting stroke. The moving parts are preferably balanced,

in order that the power required to operate the cross-head 8 may be as small as possible.

The output of the machine can be increased by increasing the number of slitting devices and of cutting disks.

I claim as my invention 1. In a splint-forming machine, a slicing device, a rod connected to operate the same and provided adjacent its lower end with a roller, :1 continuously-rotating shaft, and a cam fixed to said shaft and having on one face thereof a closed track to receive said roller; such track comprising straight, arallel sides and a semi-circular top and ottoin portions.

2. In a splint-forming machine, a vertically-reciprocating cross-head, a rotary slicing device mounted thereon, an operating rod connected to said cross-head, a drive shaft, a cam on said shaft connected to 0perate said rod, and driving means for rotating said slicing device.

3. In a splint-forming machine, a vertically-reciprocating cross-head, a rotary slic ing device mounted thereon, an operating rod connected to said cross-head, a drive shaft, a cam' on said shaft connected to operate said rod, a separate shaft for driving the slicing device, and gearing connecting the last-named shaft and said slicing device and including a member which is keyed to that shaft to slide thereon during the move ments of the cross-head.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

ALFRED BUSSY. 

